The original Freya, due to the indulgence of the baron, did not become a lady or even appear ladylike as other noblewomen did. Instead, she was a lively, free-spirited girl with simple desires, influenced by her father to love horse riding and hunting.

Most of her friends were boys. This time, ignoring advice, she went hunting alone in the forest, spurred by these friends, only to meet vagrants, leading to her fatal fall from her horse.

"So, she was a tomboy," Zhang Lin muttered with a bitter smile, shaking her head.

From the fragments of memory, she vaguely sensed that although the surface appeared calm, there was an undercurrent of turmoil.

Being attacked by vagrants within the baron’s domain was no ordinary accident.

After lying in bed for half a day, Zhang Lin stretched her sore body and got out of bed.

Outside her bedroom window was a bustling street. She opened the window, letting in the noisy sounds, faintly hearing someone calling, as if gathering people.

Looking down, she saw a team of law enforcers in uniform leather armor with crusader swords at their waists, akin to police from her past life. They were summoning the crowd, behind them knelt people in black hoods, covered in wounds.

From their attire, Zhang Lin recognized them as the vagrants who had attacked her. Though she couldn’t hear the enforcers' words clearly, she could guess they were revealing the identities of these vagrants.

Then, the enforcers drew their swords, and blood splattered.

Seeing this gruesome scene, Zhang Lin turned even paler.

Perhaps noticing her watching, the enforcers finished their duty and pounded their right fists to their chests in salute.

Seeing a live execution was perhaps commonplace to others but was horrifyingly novel to Zhang Lin.

She clutched her chest, feeling her stomach churn, even with closed eyes, she could still see the blood and decapitated heads wrapped in black sacks.

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

After all, before crossing over, she was an ordinary person, accustomed to living in a society safeguarded by law and morality. Such a shocking sight was hard to adapt to immediately.

Taking deep breaths to steady her emotions, her pale face gradually regained some color.

Since she had crossed into this world, such scenes would undoubtedly recur. If she didn’t adapt quickly, it would only spell trouble for her.

With her emotions stabilized by self-suggestion, she let go of her chest and nonchalantly closed the window.

A loud knock came at the door.

"Come in."

Zhang Lin tried to keep her voice steady.

A strong middle-aged man entered.

"Miss Freya, the baron has urgent business and asked me to escort you back to the castle."

He spoke respectfully, though his imposing stature, bearing a double-edged axe, seemed at odds with his deferential tone.

From her memory, Zhang Lin knew this was Darmstine, a deputy captain of the baron’s guards.

"Is this my father’s order? Has something happened?"

"It is, miss. It seems a large number of vagrants have been spotted near the iron mine. To ensure your safety, the baron wants you back at the castle."

Aware of the baron’s distress over the vagrants, who seemed more like bandits than refugees, Zhang Lin knew this was serious.

"Very well... you may leave. I will change and be ready to depart shortly."

After he left, Zhang Lin changed into a custom-fitted black and gold hunting outfit, accentuating her tall figure, with a coiled whip at her waist, more than just decoration.

Her golden hair, simply combed, flowed down her back, giving her a youthful vigor, despite the bandage on her head marring the image.

Dressed, she left her room. Outside, alongside Darmstine, stood two law enforcers who saluted her.

"Let’s go."

The four left the temporary residence, which was only a modest family lodge in town, unsuitable for recuperation.

Outside was a noisy street, with sellers shouting and people bustling. Women in coarse cloth carrying baskets moved about, the muddy ground from recent rain barely troubling her waterproof boots.

They walked in silence. Zhang Lin noticed the townsfolk bowing respectfully as she passed, which felt slightly disconcerting.

Gradually, she adapted to the attention.

At the town’s edge, a black carriage and three fine horses awaited.

A thin, honest-looking young man sat at the carriage's front. Seeing them, he quickly alighted to assist.

Darmstine and the others mounted the horses, while Zhang Lin was helped into the carriage.

The carriage moved smoothly, the skilled driver ensuring a comfortable ride.

Lifting the curtain, Zhang Lin watched the scenery fly by, houses giving way to vast woods and patrolling guards, hinting at the territory’s unrest.

She guessed the baron’s land was facing serious trouble.

However, as a nearly fifteen-year-old girl, unarmed and inexperienced, her speculations and worries were futile.

Shaking her head, she lowered the curtain.

The carriage traveled swiftly, reaching the castle in about twenty minutes.